In a statement, the Senators said "the decision was made as a result of conduct inconsistent with the core values of the Ottawa Senators and the National Hockey League."
Speaking at the general managers meetings in Boca Raton, Florida, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Little's firing was not related to cases of abusive conduct, like that one that led to Bill Peters resigning as coach of the Calgary Flames on Nov. 29 and resulted in the NHL composing a four-point plan to combat such instances.
"It's not what you think or would be suggested," Commissioner Bettman said. "I generally don't comment on club personnel decisions, but it's not one of the things that we were discussing at the Board meeting in December, it has to do with more internal operations."
The Senators said they have already begun to search for a replacement for Little.
"I was looking forward to helping the team and the city and the Ottawa Senators," Little said in a statement released to Sportsnet. "I wish the employees, the players and the coaches well. They all deserve our support."
Tweet from @FriedgeHNIC: Statement from Jim Little: pic.twitter.com/a3jQLGDdkl
